Reversible damper means

ABSTRACT

Automatic damper means having a multiplicity of damper blades rotatably mounted in housing means to control and regulate the flow of a heating/cooling medium into individual rooms or zones served by a central heating/cooling appliance. The damper blades are opened and closed by a reversible motor connecting to a driver blade, all blades being interconnected by linkage means. The motor and a fuel control device on the heating/cooling appliance are energized by thermostatic means.

The present invention sets forth improvements in the operation of theautomatic damper means of application Ser. No. 385,765.

In the referenced application the motor means rotating the damper bladesis comprised of a unidirectional motor having its shaft attached to oneof the damper blades. Because the motor rotates in only one direction,gear means are utilized to provide rotation of the multiple damperblades in a 360 degree arc through four equal increments of arc.

Incorporating reversing motor means in the present invention permits alinkage mechanism to replace the aforesaid gears thereby allowing anincremental rotation of 90 degrees in a forward direction, opening theblades and a subsequent rotation of 90 degrees in the oppositedirection, closing the damper blades. Thus, the reversing motor meansoperates the multiple damper blades effectively when said damper bladesare connected by a simpler linkage mechanism replacing the gear means ofpreviously stated reference.

The damper means being placed in a wall, ceiling, or floor recesshousing a duct boot are energized and controlled by a thermostatic meansregulating the temperature in a room or zone. When the room environmentrequires an increase in the temperature, said thermostatic meansactivates a fuel control device on a heating/cooling applianceinfluencing the applicance to enter a combustion cycle. Simultaneously,one of two windings of the reversing motor means is energized to rotatethe damper blades to an open position in preparation for transmitting aheating/cooling medium into the room. When aforesaid environment hasreached the desired temperature, said thermostatic means deenergizes thefuel control device and energizes the second motor winding to rotate thedamper blades to the closed position.

It is a primary objective of the present invention to provide automaticdamper means having a multiplicity of blades with simple operating meansand few movable components.

Another objective is to provide fully operable damper means having anadjustable housing for mounting in recesses enclosing duct boots.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent after considering the following detailed specificationand accompanying drawings which cover a preferred embodiment, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the automatic multiblade damper deviceconstructed according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal view taken along 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3, but showing a memberdamper means requiring only a singular damper blade.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section similar to FIG. 5 showing the switch means andswitch operator for a single blade damper means.

FIG. 7 shows the schematic diagram of the electrical circuitry forenergizing and controlling the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial schematic showing the revised circuitry required forthe single blade damper means.

Giving attention to the drawings more specifically, FIG. 1 showsautomatic damper means 10 having two damper blades 11a and 11brepresenting the multiplicity of blades that can be rotatably mounted inadjustable damper housing 12. As shown in the several views, housing 12has four sliding support bars 13a-13d attaching to panels 14a and 14b byscrew means 15. Each support bar is formed with a slot 16 along avertical axis (FIG. 2) providing for adjustment of damper housing 12within the recess 17 of FIG. 3, within which duct boot 18 is mounted.Said housing adjustment permits the use of registers of non-standardthickness to be placed over said damper housing. Screw means 15 passthrough slot 16 tightening into threaded holes in side panels to securesaid supports 13a-13d to damper housing 12.

Aforesaid damper blades 11a and 11b are rotably mounted in housing 12 bymeans of bearing pins 19 and shaft 20a of motor 20; said pins and shafthaving connection to the blades as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Motor 20being fully supported on end panel 14c of damper housing 12 passes itsshaft through a hole in motor cover 21 to capture damper blade 11a.Aforesaid bearing pins likewise extend through holes in panels 14c and14d to rotatably support the ends of blades 11a and 11b.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 motor cover 21 cooperates to support the twoway motor operating switch 22 and hold-in switch 23, both switches beingoperated by cam 24 attached to motor shaft 20a--the purpose of saidswitches to be explained.

To better understand the operation of the damper means, let's refer toFIG. 7. When a room or zone calls for heat, switch lever 25a ofthermostatic means 25 closes thermostatic contacts 25b, 25c, and 25dthereby energizing fuel control device 26 (gas valve) through conductor28, light means 29, and conductor 30; said light means providing anaffirmation that thermostatic means 25 is in an operating mode. As thefuel control device urges the central heating/cooling appliance to entera combustion cycle, motor winding 20b is simultaneously energizedthrough switch lever 25a, a first position of motor switch 22,conductors 31 and 32, and relay contacts 33; said energizing of winding20b causes motor to rotate damper blades 11 to an open position andinfluences cam 24 to move switch operator 22a to a second position todeenergize winding 20b. During the rotation of cam 24 through a 90degree increment, hold-in switch 23 is locked in a closed position bycam 24, preventing premature deenergizing of winding 20b shouldthermostatic switch lever 25a be arbitrarily moved to open contacts25b-25d while the damper blades are in a partially open position.Hold-in switch 23 maintains a closed circuit between thermostatic switchlever 25a and motor means until damper blades reach a position congruouswith the operating state of the heating/cooling appliance.

Upon attaining the temperature required by the thermostatic means, theroom environment influences thermostatic switch 25a to move to position25b-25e energizing winding 20c through said second position of motorswitch 22. The change of position of switch 25a causes thermostaticmeans 25 to relinquish control over fuel control device 26, and motorshaft 20a simultaneously rotates in the reverse direction from thatpreviously related, closing damper blades 11a and 11b; hold-in switch 23being operated in a manner identical to that employed when said bladeswere moving to the open position.

As previously described. damper blade 11a functions as the driver blade,having a direct connection to motor shaft 20a. FIG. 3 shows linkagemechanism 38 providing the required interconnection between blades 11aand 11b. Linkage bar 38a being rotatably fastened to connector plates38b and 38c, the latter being rigidly attached to said blades, moves incooperation with blade 11a to rotate blade 11b to the required open orclosed position. With the employment of reversing motor means 20, saidlinkage mechanism 38 is only required to rotate said damper bladesthrough a forward and reverse angle of 90 degrees.

When all other thermostats in a multi-room or multiple zone dwellinghave relinquished control over the central heating/cooling appliance,and the thermostatic means 25 of the present invention continues toenergize the fuel control device 26, relay coil 27 is likewise energizedto maintain normally open contacts 33 in a closed condition. Asthermostatic switch lever 25a moves to position 25b-25e to energizewinding 20c and close damper blades 11, contacts 33 are opened bydeenergized relay coil 27. Hi-temperature thermostatic switch 34 mountedin the exhaust flue or other hi-temperature zone of said heating/coolingappliance is also in an open position thereby preventing motor means 20from closing said damper blades thereby permitting residual conditionedair to be transported into the room or zone by a blower operating withinthe appliance. When hi-temperature thermostatic switch 34 cools andcloses, damper blades 11a and 11b are rotated to the closed position asmotor means 20 is energized through the completed circuit; said circuitincluding switch lever 25a, motor switch 22, winding 20c, andhi-temperature thermostatic switch 34.

Manual switch 35 shown in FIG. 7 provides a manual shutoff of allthermostatic means from a single location, while the three positionaljog switch 37 permits either winding of motor means 20 to be energizedmanually for rotation of damper blades 11, and light means 36a and 36bserve to indicate the winding being energized.

Many dwellings have small rooms or spaces such as bathrooms where asingle blade damper means provides sufficient flow of theheating/cooling medium to meet the air conditioning requirements of theroom or space. FIG. 4 shows a cross-section through damper housing 12and its single blade 11a. With only the single blade, damper housing 12is narrower in width than previously required and linkage mechanism 38unnecessary. Other construction and operative procedures are asheretofore described and set forth for rotation of the damper means byreversing motor means.

However, without the need for the linkage mechanism 38, damper blade 11aof FIG. 4 can be rotated through a 360 degree arc in four equalincrements of arc to open and close said blade. The means for regulatinga unidirectional motor 40 to accomplish rotation are shown in FIGS. 6and 7, with FIG. 7 being modified as shown in FIG. 8.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, when thermostatic means 25 calls for heatand energizes fuel control device 26 as aforedescribed, motor 40, beingunidirectional, is energized through switch lever 25a in position25b-25d, switch 41, having switch lever 41a in position 41b-41c, andclosed contacts 33 (as previously discussed). As motor 40 rotates saiddamper blade 11a, attached cam 42, having switch operating surfaces oftwo different radii positioned in adjacent quadrants, holds motorcontrol switch 41 in position 41b-41c by means of a first surface havinga first radius until said damper has arrived at the open position.Hold-in switch 23, having the function previously defined, is operableby all surfaces of said cam 42, while motor control switch 41 isrequired to make contact with only two surfaces of said cam, said twosurfaces having the same larger radius and being diametrically opposed.

To permit a change in the switch status allowing motor 40 to deenergizeafter being energized, cam 42 has the surfaces of its four quadrantsseparated every 90 degrees by a depression that allows each switchbutton or actuator to extend and break contact with internal switchterminals.

Hold-in switch 23, being a SPST (single pole single throw) switch,requires each surface of cam 42 to hold said switch in a closed positionsince the sole purpose of said switch is to maintain an auxillary closedcircuit whenever motor 40 is energized. Conversely, motor control switch41 having both a normally open and normally closed position requiresmechanical closure by said cam through use of only two diametricallyopposed surfaces.

When thermostatic means 25 deenergizes fuel control device 26, motormeans 40 is energized through thermostatic switch 25a (in position25b-25e), switch 41 (in position 41b-41e) and contacts 33 orhi-temperature switch 34 as previously discussed.

The foregoing description has set forth an improved automatic damperdevice which meets all the requirements sought after. It beingunderstood, however, that the form of the invention herein described andshown is to be taken as the preferred embodiment. Many changes,modifications, variations, other uses, and applications which do notdepart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to becovered by the invention which is limited only by the claims whichfollow:

I claim:
 1. Automatic damper means, having thermostatic means,controlling and regulating the flow of a heating/cooling mediumtraversing between a central heating/cooling appliance and individualrooms or zones via a duct network; said damper means having incombination:(a) a housing means;said housing means comprising anenclosure having adjustable support means, and motor covering means;said enclosure containing closure means and transmission means, saidhousing means, having open top and bottom sections, adapted to bemounted in floor, wall and ceiling recesses; (b) said closure means;saidclosure means comprising damper blade means rotatably mounted in saidenclosure; said damper blade means opening and closing said enclosure incooperation with said thermostatic means; (c) said transmissionmeans;said transmission means comprising motor means having a shaftconnecting to a driven blade of said damper blade means; (d) controlmeans;said control means energizing and controlling said transmissionmeans, said control means comprising said thermostatic means, saidthermostatic means providing electrical interlocks between fuel controlmeans of said heating/cooling appliance and motor control means, andbetween said fuel control means and said transmission means; first andsecond switch means operating by automatic and manual meansrespectively; and first and second light means respectively connectingsaid thermostatic means to said said motor control means andinterlocking said fuel control means and said motor means; (e) saidsupport means;said support means comprising movable brackets havingmobility along an axis having fastening means; said mobility permittingadjustment of said enclosure in recesses, said fastening means attachingsaid brackets to enclosure panels, said brackets providing support forsaid enclosure on external means; (f) said motor control means;saidmotor control means comprising a coil and contacts and a hightemperature switch; said coil electrically interlocking with saidthermostatic means and controlling operation of said motor means.
 2. Themotor means defined in claim 1 being a reversible motor and having afirst winding energizing, in combination, said fuel control means andsaid motor control means through a first switch position of saidthermostatic means; and a second winding energizing said motor meansthrough a second switch position of said thermostatic means; said shaftof said motor means having a switch operator actuating said first switchmeans.
 3. The closure means defined in claim 1 having a multiplicity ofdamper blades interconnected by a linkage mechanism, said linkagemechanism comprising plates attaching to said damper blades and aconnector bar interconnecting said plates by fastening means.
 4. Thefirst switch means of claim 1 comprising a hold-in switch and a two-wayswitch, said hold-in switch connecting to said thermostatic means andsaid motor means, said two-way switch connecting to multiple windings ofsaid reversible motor, said first switch means being operable by arotating switch operator.
 5. The second switch means of claim 1comprising a manual switch electrically disconnecting a plurality ofdamper means simultaneously; a jog switch bypassing said thermostaticmeans and connecting to said motor means; said jog switch operating saidmotor means independently of said thermostatic means.
 6. Automaticdamper means, operable by motor means, controlling the temperature of anenvironment in individual rooms or zones; said damper means being anassembly comprising:(a) housing means;said housing means having anenclosure with open top and bottom sections, said enclosure supportableon external means by adjustable means attaching to panels of saidenclosure by fastening means; said enclosure supporting closure meansand said motor means; (b) said closure means;said closure means havingan included driven blade, pivotally mounting within said enclosure ofsaid housing means, said driven blade attaching to said motor means; (c)transmission means;said transmission means comprising said motor meansenergizable by thermostatic means and second switch means of controlmeans; a shaft of said motor means having attachment to a longitudinalaxis of said driven blade and rotating said closure means between openand closed positions; (d) said control means;said control meanscomprising said thermostatic means interconnecting and energizing fuelcontrol means of a heating/cooling appliance, motor means, and a firstlight means; in combination with a first switch means said thermostaticmeans operating said motor means; second switch means, being a manualswitch, interconnecting second light means and said motor means to saidfuel control means; (e) said adjustable means;said adjustable meansbeing said support means comprising movable brackets having mobilityalong an axis having fastening means; said mobility accommodatingadjustment of said enclosure within recesses, said fastening meansattaching said brackets to enclosure panels, said brackets providingsupport of said enclosure on external means surrounding said recesses;(f) motor control means;said motor control means comprising a coil andcontacts and a high temperature switch; said coil electricallyinterlocking with said thermostatic means and controlling operation ofsaid motor means.
 7. The means defined in claim 20 wherein said motormeans comprise a singly wound, unidirectional motor having said shaftattaching to said driven blade of said closure means, said closure meanscomprising a single blade, said single blade being said driven blade. 8.The first switch means of claim 6 comprising a hold-in switch and atwo-way switch, said hold-in switch connecting to said thermostaticmeans and said motor means, said two-way switch interconnecting saidmotor means and thermostatic means, said first switch means beingoperable by a rotating switch operator.
 9. The second switch means ofclaim 6 comprising a manual switch electrically disconnecting aplurality of damper means simultaneously; a jog switch bypassing saidthermostatic means and connecting to said motor means, said jog switchoperating said motor means independently of said thermostatic means. 10.The means defined in claim 1 wherein said closure means comprise asingle damper blade, said single blade being said driven bladeconnecting to said shaft of said motor means.
 11. The means defined inclaim 6 wherein said closure means having a plurality of damper bladesinterconnected by a linkage mechanism, said linkage mechanism comprisingplates attaching to said damper blades and a connector barinterconnecting said plates through fastening means.
 12. The meansdefined in claim 6 wherein said motor means comprise a motor havingreversing means, said reversing means including a first winding and asecond winding, said first winding operating said fuel control means andsaid motor control means through a first switch position of saidthermostatic means; a second switch position of said thermostatic meansenergizing said second winding of said reversing means; said shaft ofsaid motor means having a switch operator actuating said first switchmeans.